Dark-backed weaver

Ploceus bicolor

SUBFAMILY

Ploceinae

TAXONOMY

Ploceus bicolor Vieillot, 1819, 'Senegal' = South Africa.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Forest weaver; French: Tisserin bicolore; German: Waldweber; Spanish: Tejedor Bicolor.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

5.5 in (14 cm); female 1.0–1.3 oz (29–36 g), male 1.1–1.6 oz (32–46 g). Upperparts dark, underparts golden yellow. Bill dark with blue-gray rims. Eye brown or red in different

regions. Sexes alike. Juvenile duller than adult, bill light brown.

DISTRIBUTION

Nigeria east to southern Sudan and eastern Africa, south to eastern South Africa but absent from Botswana, Namibia.

HABITAT

Forested areas and dense riverine vegetation, subtropical thicket.

BEHAVIOR

In pairs throughout the year, small family parties after breeding. Joins mixed-species flocks. Song a musical duet, heard at all times of the year.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Insects, mainly gleaned from branches, bark, and tangled vegetation in mid-story of forest. Also fruit and berries, and nectar.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Monogamous, solitary nester. Often returns to same site, so several old nests may be in close proximity. Nest is retort-shaped with broad entrance tunnel pointing downwards; suspended at tip of branch or creeper. Woven of thin vines and creepers, appears rough and always looks old and dry. Lays two to four eggs in summer. Incubation 15–17 days, fledging 22 days. Probably both sexes incubate; both feed young.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened, but dependent on preservation of well-wooded habitats.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.